Price's NHL debut was an event that was highly anticipated across Canada after he earned national fame by leading the national team to the World Junior Championship last season, earning MVP honors in the process. The former No. 5 overall pick of the Canadiens also was goaltender of the year in the juniors last season and then led Hamilton to the AHL championship last spring.

At Pittsburgh, Price said he was more relaxed for Wednesday's game than he had been at the World Juniors or in the AHL Calder Cup finals.

"If you look at the way he played in the past, like in the World Juniors, he played really well and in Hamilton ... when it was time to close a series, he was there and played well," Montreal coach Gui Carbonneau said. "And tonight was one of those games."

Canadiens Hall of Fame goalies Ken Dryden and Roy also made their NHL debuts against the Penguins - Roy's first game was a 5-3 victory on Oct. 10, 1985.

"I read it in the game notes," Price said. "It's kind of a coincidence. It's kind of weird that's how that worked out."

Price, taken four spots behind Penguins star Sidney Crosby at the 2005 draft, stopped the reigning NHL scoring champion at least twice during a flurry in front of his net and made a save on Erik Christensen from close range early in the second for two of his best stops.

"I thought he really looked confident," Montreal captain Saku Koivu said. "And if he was nervous he didn't show it at all. We took some penalties in the first period so he had to get into the game right away, and he made some key saves, kept us in the game."

Antoine Vermette scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Brian Elliott won his NHL debut in goal and visiting Ottawa remained unbeaten.

The Senators improved to 5-0, just one win off the franchise record for most consecutive victories at the start of the season. Defending Southeast Division champion Atlanta has just four goals in its three losses.

Berard, signed to a one-year deal Tuesday, gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead with a 5-on-3 power-play goal with 6:04 left in the period. Bergeron, who scored the first goal in the closing seconds of the opening frame, earned the second assist.

Paul Kariya helped beat his old team, assisting on two first-period goals as St. Louis won its home opener.